Tyson Fury is being likened to boxing legend Muhammad Ali and is predicted to smash Deontay Wilder in a rematch that could be worth more than $900m.
The likeable Brit stormed Las Vegas on Sunday, wooing a sellout crowd as he destroyed German Tom Schwarz inside two rounds.
Fury’s veteran American promoter Bob Arum, the man who managed much of Ali’s successful career, couldn’t help but draw comparisons.
“I haven’t seen a fighter with that much charisma since Muhammad Ali. I don’t believe there is a heavyweight in the world that can beat Fury,” Arum said.
“This was one of the great shows I’ve ever seen and not just because of the boxing. He’s an entertainer. He is truly unique.
“Now that he’s in shape, he can knock out every heavyweight in the world.”
Fury got off the canvas twice to record a controversial draw with WBC champion Wilder in Los Angeles last December and the anticipated rematch is brewing.
Arum believes the sequel will be a one-sided affair but could set a revenue record in a sport that deals with money like its telephone numbers.
“It could be as big as Mayweather-Pacquiao, and could equal or surpass the numbers of Mayweather-Pacquiao,” Arum said, referring to the 2015 welterweight blockbuster he helped promote that grossed more than NZ$924m
“They were the little guys, here we have the biggest men in the sport. Tyson Fury is a force of nature. Deontay Wilder is not going five rounds with him.”
Fury’s British promoter Frank Warren was equally enthusiastic about the future for his fighter who is on the comeback trail after spiralling out of control following his 2015 win over Wladimir Klitschko, a result that ripped the heavyweight division open.
“It was a near-perfect showing from Tyson,” Warren said of the latest win over the previously unbeaten Schwarz.
“We want the second Wilder fight because we want justice. That first fight was controversial as we all know, and Tyson was robbed of winning the only heavyweight belt, the WBC title, that he has not had in his possession.
“He is a great heavyweight, fast reflexes and a tremendous boxing brain, and I truly believe he will go on to cement his legacy. We have two undefeated fighters here, and they must meet again.”
Fury was buzzing after his win, believing he had delivered on his promise to put on a dominant show as Arum and Warren looked to build his profile in the United States.
“I came here to put on a show for Las Vegas and I hope everyone -enjoyed it as much as I did,” Fury said before having a crack a his British rival Anthony Joshua who was upset by Andy Ruiz Jr in New York a fortnight ago.
“We saw a British fighter [Anthony Joshua] travel to America a couple of weeks ago and he didn’t look like he wanted to be in there. This was Tyson Fury in Las Vegas; the biggest thing that’s happened in my career so far.”
Fury trained with New Zealand heavyweight Joseph Parker in Las Vegas in the buildup to his win.
“The key was to enjoy myself – I used the jab,” Fury said. “I showed a little bit of speed, boxing skill, my ability to slip and slide out of the way of punches and my ability to finish, which is important. I was slipping with my hands down and shifted to southpaw and caught him with a straight left.
“It was a good shot, it would have put anybody away. The lineal champion is back. I put on about 10 or 11 extra pounds from my fight with Wilder and I felt good, very strong.”
